East to America: Chinese Experiences of Manifest Destiny

Through the experiences of Joseph Pierce (1842-1916), a Chinese immigrant who fought in the Civil War, this webinar explores how and why Chinese migration to California increased and became systematic as US westward expansion led to the rapid economic development of its Pacific coast. Topics include the decline of the Qing Empire, the coerced integration of China into Western-dominated political and economic systems following the Opium Wars, and the economic prospects drawing Chinese to migrate to America. Participants will explore migration patterns and systems, Chinese experiences of the US’s developing western frontier, and the racialized development of immigration regulations aimed at quelling their quests for fortunes and opportunities.